September 11, 2008

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica Breaks Ground for New Clubhouse at John Adams Middle School

by ssavage

Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 4:00 p.m. in honor of the new Clubhouse at John Adams Middle School. With an anticipated completion date of June 2009, the Clubhouse continues Boys & Girls Clubs 64-year tradition of enabling all young people, especially those who need help the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.

Currently Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica operates a satellite afterschool program at John Adams Middle School; however the new Clubhouse will enable the program to expand from one small classroom serving approximately 300 children annually to a 5,563 square foot facility equipped to support all of the school's 1,100 students.

"This is a historic day for Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, as we begin work on the second largest facility on the Westside," said Allan Young, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica. "As someone who grew up in Boys & Girls Clubs, I know the value this Clubhouse will have on its members and their families - providing a safe environment for kids to learn in, have fun in and grow in."

Leaders from Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica and the community will speak at the groundbreaking, including:

The Clubhouse will provide services to students six days a week, 12 months a year - before and after school, during lunch and during vacation and summer holidays. Members will flourish academically and socially as they participate in nationally-renowned programs in the following areas: the arts, athletics, drug/alcohol and pregnancy prevention, education, the environment, leadership development, career preparation, social recreation and technology.

Clubhouse Details

Careful thought has gone into the blueprint of the John Adams Middle School Clubhouse in order to create a positive, safe environment that contributes to quality programming. Highlights of Clubhouse offerings include:

Technology and Media Center

Whether building computers from scratch, or using them for animation, web design or robotics, Club members learn about technology from the inside and out. Led by expert staff, members can also do video and sound production in the sound studio.

Learning Center

The Learning Center is a great feature of the Club and it offers a variety of programs, activities and resources. Trained professionals guide the students as they work on school projects, debate the day's news or play Sudoku on the Internet - these "high yield" activities expand upon what is being taught at school.

Social Recreation

Ping-pong, foosball, air hockey and bumper pool - all examples of what will greet members everyday as they walk through the doors of the Club and into the Games Room. Other forms of social recreation include field trips to museums, aquariums, theme parks, mountain camps and the beach.

Access to John Adams Middle School Facilities

John Adams Middle School has offered the use of their gymnasium for sports and recreation programs and their auditorium in which Clubhouse members can participate in music, drama and dance programs. Boys & Girls Clubs will also have access to the school's fields for outdoor programming and there is space available for a future skate park site.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

The Club was founded in 1946 and since that time approximately 150,000 local youth have benefited. Today there are approximately 7,000 young people involved in Club programs. They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Inglewood. Members pay a $10 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica operates with the objective to serve children from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances - ensuring that youth ages 7-18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures. To learn more, please visit http://www.smbgc.org.